At investors dinner in Yaounde: IPA recommits to keep investment climate friendly, healthy.

The event, held on December 5, 2025, was on the theme: “Increasing the contribution of the private sector to the National Gross Domestic Product”.

The gathering brought together senior government officials, business leaders, international development actors and institutional heads for discussions on reforms, investment incentives and the overall business environment.

Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbairobe and that of Livestock Fisheries and Animal Industries, Dr Taiga, attended the meeting. 

Heads of major enterprises and public institutions were also present, including the Chief Executive Officer of the Société Anonyme des Boissons du Cameroun, SABC, Stéphane Descazeaud; the Director General of the Port Authority of Douala, PAD, Cyrus Ngo’o; that of the Cameroon Real Estate Corporation, SIC, Ahmadou Sardaouna; the DG of the Industrial Zones Development and Management Authority, MAGZI, Christol Georges Manon; and the DG of the National Shippers' Council of Cameroon, Auguste Mbappépenda, among others.

IPA outlines ongoing reforms

In his keynote address, the Interim General Manager of the IPA, Boma Donatus, used the platform to spotlight the agency’s mandate in improving Cameroon’s business environment and supporting dialogue between administration and investors. 

He stated that the agency gathers concerns from business operators and reports them to higher authorities, noting that several recommendations submitted in the previous year had informed national reforms. 

Boma revealed that the 2025 investment incentive law was enacted to address key obstacles flagged by businesses.

“Government has the strong will to go ahead and carry all the reforms that are necessary within this field,” Boma stated.

He added that the agency’s focus for this edition was on how the business sector could enhance its contribution to GDP through productive and sustainable investments. 

Boma underlined the role of simplified procedures, digitalisation and reduced bureaucracy in attracting foreign direct investment, pointing to examples across Africa notably Ghana and Rwanda. 

According to him, a stable and predictable business environment can attract many investors, as demonstrated in countries that have already strengthened their investment systems.

“The Investment Promotion Agency will continue to work towards trying to contribute its own quota towards ameliorating the investment climate in the country,” he underscored.

The IPA boss further stressed that reforms to improve the investment landscape require collective engagement. 

According to him, progress depends on cooperation between government bodies, private operators and institutions working to modernise administrative and economic frameworks.

“The fight for a better business climate is a collective effort. Let us keep working towards making the business environment friendly for investors,” Boma concluded.

Calls for structural, monetary reform

Speaking at the event, Cameroonian Economist, Emmanuel Noubissie Ngankam, focused on the structural foundations needed to sustain growth. 

He pointed out issues related to monetary policy, mobility and productivity. Noubissie continued by explaining the importance of mechanisms that support economic exchange across African markets and insisted on the need for reforms that support productivity gains, regional integration and financial stability.

He further noted that collaboration between governments and technical and financial partners, including institutions such as the IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank, remains essential. 

According to him, such partnerships facilitate economic development, strengthen policy implementation and support private sector expansion.

Civil society urges State, private sector trust pact 

Also present at the event was business lawyer and President of The Okwelians think tank, Jacques Jonathan Nyemb, who continued his advocacy for the establishment of a genuine pact of trust between the State, the private sector and civil society. 

According to him, such a pact will improve tax equity, strengthen infrastructure and rebalance budgeting. 

“Our real expectation is that through this pact of trust, measures will be taken to relaunch our economy,” Nyemb told reporters.

He identified energy, transport and digital infrastructure as priorities for modernisation and proposed the creation of a public-private fund dedicated to sustainable industrialisation. 

Nyemb said this mechanism would support value chain development, especially in agro-industry, and facilitate project maturation and financing for youth and women-led enterprises.

He maintained that Cameroon’s economic potential offers strong prospects, provided all actors assume shared responsibility.

“It is together that we can build the framework and conditions for the transformation of our country,” Nyemb concluded.

MoUs crown 2025 IPA investors dinner

The 2025 Investors Dinner concluded with the signing of Memorandums of Understanding between the IPA and three institutions notably the PAD, MAGZI, and the Cameroon-Ethiopia Economic Council. 
According to the IPA, the agreements aim to strengthen collaboration in investment facilitation, industrial zone development and bilateral economic cooperation.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3649 of Monday December 08, 2025